About Violin Teacher, Barbara Stafford

Here is an overview of my education, performing, teaching experience, and objectives

Education: After graduating from high school I studied violin performance for three years at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (Alaska is my state of birth). Then , I transferred to the University of North Texas to earn a degree in Music Theory and Composition, May 1999. Most recently, I have received Suzuki Violin teacher training. In addition to music, I have informal training in filial or “play” therapy. And received, teacher training during my time working for Alaska Boy’s and Girl’s Club, before and after school programs.

Performing Violin: On the classical side, I have performed many years in The Anchorage Symphony, Anchorage Opera, University of Alaska, Anchorage Sinfonia (serving one year as co-concertmaster), Camarata String Quartet, substituted with the Plano Symphony, and free-lanced in several other string quartets in the Dallas-Fw area. On the contemporary and folk side, I’ve performed with several local bands. My experiences ranging from full-time work in a world music band, weekend-work with a country cover-tunes band, and occasional collaborations with a modern folk music artist.

Teaching Violin & Viola: I teach regularly at my home studio as well as within the Lewisville school district for which I pass an annual background check.

I have been teaching private violin and viola lessons for sixteen years to students ranging in age from 5 to 19 years. Through that time, I have collected effective curriculum and developed reinforcement materials and techniques to facilitate my students’ best advancement through private lesson study.

The lessons I offer facilitate a student's development of sounder skills concerning intonation, tone production, articulation, music-position reading, shifting, vibrato, and musicality. The slope of my game-plan and choice of curriculum has been set based largely on the audition materials selected for advancing orchestras within the public school system, middle school through high school, as well as the demands of the UIL region audition materials.

Some students may have a different purpose for the lessons. I am happy to shift my focus to help my students meet their goals.